It’s clear that the ongoing economic crisis is affecting job markets in every city and every profession – and the consequences for the legal profession and our graduating 3L’s are profound and troubling. A great Law Center is a community, and members of communities pull together to help each other. We are doing so. As we prepare to graduate our Class of 2009, the Law Center has initiated a program providing up to $500,000 to support our newest graduates. These programs are focused mostly on the several months that follow the bar exam.

We are expanding a Public Interest Fellowship program that was launched in 2006, and I encourage our friends and alumni in the public-interest arena to reach out to our recent graduates without incurring any costs. For a period of three months, the Law Center will provide a stipend of $6,000 to new graduates selected for these Public Interest Fellowships, which will allow them to serve the community while they add direct work experience to their résumés. To qualify, public interest positions must be listed with our Career Development Office.

We are also offering three-month Research Fellowships to members of the Class of 2009 who assist our faculty with research projects, or help coordinate alumni outreach.

In addition, new graduates can receive a 50% scholarship for Fall Semester if they are admitted to our LL.M. degree program, and they can register without cost for specialized classes and UH continuing legal education courses. Add it all up – and our support program for new graduates could total to $500,000.

I told our graduating students that we are determined to do everything we can to help them weather the current environment. In short, we are committed to their success – and I know you join me in that sentiment.